Switzerland has opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, the president of world football (soccer) body FIFA. The Swiss attorney general's office announced the probe into the possible criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA funds on Friday.

The attorney general's office said "The office of the FIFA president has been searched and data seized."

The Blatter investigation comes amid an ongoing corruption investigation into the leadership of the world's most popular sport.

The 79-year-old Blatter had already announced he would step down in February because of earlier corruption allegations against the organization's senior officials.

Blatter's lawyer Richard Cullen said in a statement the FIFA chief is cooperating with authorities. Cullen said the evidence will prove "no mismanagement occurred."

The investigation announcement came after a meeting of FIFA's executive committee in Zurich.